Mary Doyle (Aston, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Through Raise Our Voice Australia, it is now my honour to read out a speech from 14-year-old Reyhaan, an outstanding young leader in my electorate of Aston. Reyhaan wrote about education equity:

Imagine two students. One has access to every learning resource—stable internet, tutoring, a quiet space to study. The other wants to succeed just as much but has none of those things. Which one do you think gets left behind?

If we want a better tomorrow for young Australians, we must make education equity a priority today. It's not just about funding, it's about access, support, and fairness. We need stronger support systems in public schools, and targeted programs for students in rural, low-income, and multicultural communities. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn't.

As a young person on my local council's Youth Advisory Committee, I see how deeply young people care about their future. Hence, I'm asking the government to continue to partner with us, invest in schools, mental health services, digital infrastructure, and youth leadership. Let's also invest in sustainability and STEM … education so students are ready for jobs in clean energy, climate innovation, and the industries of tomorrow.

That's how we create a smarter, fairer, and greener Australia, not just in one neighbourhood or state, but right across the country.

Thank you, Reyhaan, for your advocacy and your excellent speech.

See this speech in context